Browns depth taking advantage of a big opportunity due to an injury to a key starter
The Cleveland Browns dealt with a ton of injuries last season and some are even carrying into training camp heading into this season. One player who will be out until at least Week 1 and not playing in the preseason is defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. Tomlinson had a minor knee procedure much like defensive end […]
The Cleveland Browns dealt with a ton of injuries last season and some are even carrying into training camp heading into this season. One player who will be out until at least Week 1 and not playing in the preseason is defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. Tomlinson had a minor knee procedure much like defensive end Alex Wright had this time last year.
With that injury to Tomlinson, opportunity is being created for other players. Veteran defensive tackle Shelby Harris is out at the moment too, so other guys are stepping up.
“I mean, we have a lot of guys that are benefiting from a lot of reps and some guys that need to take a little better advantage of some of the opportunities,” defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. “But we’ve been practicing most of the last week, obviously without Dalvin, but also without Shelby (Harris). So, two of our major contributors last year. It just opens up a lot more, guys like Michael Hall, guys like Jowon Briggs, guys like Sam Kamara.”
Hall was the second-round pick of the Browns back in April and has a chance to make an impact as a pass rusher from the interior as a rookie. The Ohio State product is explosive off the snap and can generate pressure. Briggs is the late-round pick who has an uphill climb to make the roster but could be a player who lands on the practice squad. Kamara spent time with the practice squad for Cleveland in 2022 and 2023. Over the last two seasons, he has appeared in three games for the Browns.
“Sam Kamara has had a really good camp. He’s playing pretty much full-time inside after being a swing guy and mainly concentrating on end last year, but he’s been very impressive so far and really taking advantage of a lot of those plays. And, you guys know the way we rotate our defensive linemen, we’re going to need everybody up there and over the course of the year. So important for all those guys, it doesn’t matter who it is. Siaki (Ika), Jowon, Mike Hall, Sam, you know, all those guys have benefited from the extra reps.”
The rookies should not be relied on when the season starts since the Browns do have a strong veteran group on the interior. When Tomlinson and Harris are back, they will have guys like Quinton Jefferson and Maurice Hurst ready to step in. Hall is being led by Jefferson specifically.
“I mean, all rookies are going to have highs and lows, and Mike’s no different. I mean, Jowon’s the same way on the D-line. They all do. The thing I’m probably most with Mike is his effort. Like, that’s a guy that goes hard all the time. And I tell you what, he’s got a great, great vet leading the way for him that way in Quinton Jefferson. If you guys want to have some fun and practice, watch Quinton Jefferson run to the ball.“
Cleveland has a good mix of youth and veterans for the interior of the defensive line and that should bode well as the season goes on.
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The kind answer you want to see.
